Why Plateau top LG officials were suspended – Commissioner

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Plateau State, Hon. Dayyabu Garga, has explained why some top local government officials in the state were suspended for alleged “financial recklessness” .
Garga said the decision to suspend the affected officials was backed up by a report submitted by an investigation committee set up by former Governor Jonah Jang’s administration to dig into alleged financial recklessness in the local governments.
He said those affected by the suspension order are the Directors of Personnel Management, Directors of Finance and Accounts, as well as cashiers of the 17 local governments areas.
Also suspended are some auditors, some Deputy DPMs, Deputy DFAs and the heads of works and agriculture departments of some of the local governments.
The Commissioner told The Eagle Online on Wednesday that the officers were first queried before the suspension, describing the exercise as “inter diction”.
Garga explained: “The suspended officials were queried.
“Based on their individual responses to the queries, they have been placed on half salary pending the final determination of their cases.
“We are still investigating individual cases to ascertain the level of involvement of each officer; those cleared will be recalled, while those found wanting will be sacked.”
Garga did not disclose the number of persons affected in the exercise, but said virtually all the 17 local governments in the state are involved.
He however denied the notion making the round that their suspension was politically motivated.